Surface skimmer?

[RHUN]

Hi,

I was told that I can get a surface skimmer as a substitude to a protein skimmer in a feet tank. Anyone out there can advise on this?

[dodo]

who tell u tis?the fella must be pulling your leg!!!! these two items are working on a entirely different basis and serve different functions?how to substitude it's like comparing a air pump wif a water pump

[bawater]

A Protein skimmer removes dissolved organics by foam fractioning, u get the brownish liquid called skim mate.

A surface skimmer removes the organic film on the surface of the water only(it may look like oil but its just bacteria). usually used in planted aquaria because usage of co².

For a 1feet, if u can have very good filtration or very regular water changes(every week)- with both even better then u can go without a skimmer(cause a skimmer in a 1 foot will take up 1/3 of the tank space). Regular water changes with filtered seawater from LFS once or twice a week is pretty good enough.

[RHUN]

LFS in Oxford road.....

[LiveRock]

Agree with bawater.

But it is good to have a skimmer around. Use a Hang-On-back (HOB) skimmer to optimise space.

Examples are Prizm and Remora.

BTW, I'm also a pico-tanker (1 feet x 1 feet). Here is what I use.

Prizm skimmer

Ehiem 2026 external canister with Poly-foam inside.

Surface skimmer to the Ehiem

DSB and LiveRocks.

So far, 1 year + and still ok. I change 30% water every month.

Top up almost every day with 1 L of Kalkwasser

[TanGo]

LFS in Oxford road.....

I think you heard wrongly.. Thomas won't be telling you that..

[RHUN]

I think you heard wrongly.. Thomas won't be telling you that..

Tango,

I believe you saw his two feet tank with a surface skimmer???

[TanGo]

Tango,

I believe you saw his two feet tank with a surface skimmer???

Surface skimmers only remove surface debris.. For a skimmerless tank, you are require to do weekly water changes and syphoning of your sandbed.. I never really took note of his 2ft tank system.. Will do so the next time round..